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Obama administration and Democrat hysterics are once again out in force. Coordinating with their media propaganda pushers, they are attempting to convince the American public that "sequestration," as in the mandatory spending cuts engendered by the budget ceiling debacle of 2011, amount to nothing less than economic Armageddon. "Sequester is a blunt and indiscriminate instrument that poses a serious threat to our national security, domestic priorities and the economy," said Danny Werfel, a senior official at the White House budget office, to reporters at a briefing.
While deep defense cuts should be reasonably feared, in other areas, the Democrats' claim is utterly hyperbolic. In FY2013, the sequester would result in cuts totaling $85 billion. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal spending for 2012, excluding certain credit adjustments for items such as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), was $3.5 trillion. Assuming federal spending would stay completely flat, such a "massive" spending cut would comprise 2.4 percent of the 2013 budget. For perspective's sake, as well as a good indication that flat federal spending is an elusive reality, it should be noted that Congress recently authorized a total of $60.2 billion in additional deficit spending for Hurricane Sandy relief.
Or more accurately, Congress authorized another unconscionable pork-fest that included relief for Hurricane Sandy. It also included billions of dollars for such items as FBI salaries, $2 billion for road construction across the country, funding for the Head Start program, roof repairs at the Smithsonian, $4 million for the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, $50 million for the National Park Service–and $16 billion for usage by 47 states to underwrite past and future events from 2011 through 2013. As of now, none of that spending has been offset by any cuts in other programs. In other words, even as the hysterics wax spasmodic about "gargantuan" cuts, Congress has just spent another $60.2 billion–meaning that even if the entire $85 billion in cuts for 2013 go into effect as scheduled, spending for this year will be reduced by all of $24.8 billion.
The long-term spending reductions are equally un-cataclysmic, especially when compared to the amount of deficit spending in which this administration has engaged. The entire amount of the spending cuts engendered by sequestration total $1.2 trillion–over ten years. Compare that to the deficits this administration has run over the last four years: in FY2009, the federal deficit was $1.4 trillion; in FY2010 it was $1.293 trillion; FY2011 totaled $1.3 trillion; and in FY2012, federal spending exceeded revenues by $1.089 trillion. That comes to more than $5 trillion of debt accumulated in just four years–on the books.
Off the book federal obligations, better known as "unfunded liabilities," are almost incomprehensible. Americans get testy when they think of a federal government more than $16 trillion in debt. Yet America's actual debt is $86.8 trillion, or 550% of GDP, when one counts all of the revenue the government needs to fund Social Security, Medicare, and federal employees' future retirement benefits at the current time. In other words, sequestration is akin to subtracting a single grain of sand from a Sahara Desert of debt.
Now one would think that historically unprecedented levels of deficits and debt would chasten the president and the spendthrifts in the Democratic Party. One would be completely and utterly wrong. In his State of the Union speech, Obama flat out lied about sequestration. "In 2011, Congress passed a law saying that if both parties couldn't agree on a plan to reach our deficit goal, about a trillion dollars' worth of budget cuts would automatically go into effect this year." We already know that only $85 billion will be cut this year.
Yet he compounded that lie by doing what he does best, namely, stoking fear. "These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness, they'd devastate priorities like education and energy and medical research. They would certainly slow our recovery and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs. And that's why Democrats, Republicans, business leaders, and economists have already said that these cuts – known here in Washington as 'the sequester'–are a really bad idea."
Which brings us to something most Americans don't know: sequestration was Barack Obama's "bad idea." Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, who became famous when he uncovered the Watergate scandal, wrote a book chronicling eighteen months of efforts by leaders in both parties to revitalize the American economy. According to Woodward, former White House chief of staff Jack Lew brought up sequestration on behalf of the president. Even the left-leaning Washington Post "fact-checked" Obama's claim that Congress "proposed" the sequester, and gave it their "whopper" rating of Four Pinocchios, the highest level of mendacity on the scale.
Obama proposed the sequester because he was certain that Republicans would fold, due to the reality that fifty percent of the cuts come from the military. This confidence was no doubt compounded by the reality that the so-called cuts to entitlement programs completely exempted Social Security, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), refundable tax credits, veterans' compensation, and federal retirement, even as it imposed cuts on Medicare providers.
Unfortunately for the president and his party, Republicans haven't folded for three reasons. One, they gave into Obama on the fiscal cliff deal and allowed taxes to be raised. As of now, they are not prepared to accept any further tax hikes to "offset" the impending cuts.
Two, a large number of Republicans believe that the only way to get any serious spending cuts is to accept that they will include cuts to military spending. Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), for instance, explained to Politico that if Republicans "don't take defense spending seriously, it undermines our credibility on other spending issues. When we speak candidly about a spending problem and we then seek to puff up the defense budget and (sic) it leads people to believe that we aren't taking the problem seriously."
Yet it is the third reason that likely animates Republicans the most. Since the cuts are automatic, they don't have to negotiate with a duplicitous president, hector Senate Democrats to pass a budget for the first time in almost four years, or have yet another House budget proposal submitted to the Senate routinely dismissed. They merely have to sit back and do…nothing.
Thus, the proverbial ball is back in the administration's court. And with an ample assist from the media, Democrats and administration officials have embarked on a blitzkrieg campaign best described as a combination of Orwellian denial, and shameless fear-mongering. With regard to the former strategy, a number of prominent Democrats are suddenly promoting the idea that America doesn't have a spending problem at all. That's reportedly what President Obama told John Boehner. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) echoed that contention, saying we don't have a "spending problem," but a "priority problem." House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) mysteriously concluded that America doesn't have a spending problem, but a "paying-for problem." And Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) has decided that the real problem isn't spending, but a "misallocation of capital, a misallocation of wealth." In other words, as far as Harkin is concerned, government's chief function is to pick winners and losers in the private sector, and then decide how much wealth is too much for the winners to amass.
As bad as these efforts to deny reality are, they pale in comparison to the implementation of the latter strategy, as in the onslaught of fear-mongering this administration has engendered. The White House has published a "fact" sheet that is a laundry list of doom-and-gloom Americans would be forced to endure if the sequester occurs. Itemized entries include kicking kids out of Head Start (despite the Head Start funding contained in the Sandy spending package), as well as leaving Americans vulnerable to food poisoning, crime, disease, a lack of emergency responders, untreated mental health patients, interruptions in meals and/or nutrition programs for seniors, women, infants and children, and a host of other calamities that will befall the nation if such "massive cuts"–amounting to all of about one half of one percent of GDP–kick in.
Yet the most despicable example of ginning up unnecessary fear was revealed by the Washington Times on Valentine's Day. The Obama administration is claiming that if the sequester happens, furloughs for food inspectors would cause shutdowns of meat-processing plants. As a result, more than 2 billion pounds of beef and pork, and more than 3 billion pounds of poultry will never make it to market, precipitating shortages and price spikes. The implication is clear: either Republicans cave to our demands, or they will be blamed for forcing Americans to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle!
Such threats are completely unsurprising. Behind the facade of hope and change this administration and its media cheerleaders promote lives the extortionist "never let a crisis go to waste" mentality that truly animates those for whom such thuggish, "Chicago-style" tactics are considered business as usual. After four years and two victorious elections, Barack Obama remains, at heart, not a president, but a community organizer completely comfortable with the politics of demonization, division and fear.
Again, as Americans contemplate the "devastation" that will supposedly befall us, the Wall Street Journal reminds us that perspective is everything. "Fear not," they write. "As always in Washington when there is talk of cutting spending, most of the hysteria is baseless….In Mr. Obama's first two years, while private businesses and households were spending less and deleveraging, federal domestic discretionary spending soared by 84% with some agencies doubling and tripling their budgets" (italic mine).
One last thing. More Americans need to become familiar with the concept of baseline budgeting. In simple terms, if an agency's budget is $100, and they are expecting an increase of $10.00 next year, but they only get $8.00, politicians characterize that as a $2.00 cut in spending. Concerning the entire $1.2 trillion in "cuts" engendered by the sequester, it must be understood that they are not really cuts at all. They are really a lowering of the projected increase in federal spending going forward. The CBO cuts through the fog. "For the 2014–2023 period, deficits in CBO's baseline projections total $7.0 trillion. With such deficits, federal debt would remain above 73 percent of GDP–far higher than the 39 percent average seen over the past four decades," it reports.
Thus, over the next decade, we are "cutting" our way to adding another $7 trillion of debt to the $16-plus trillion we have already amassed. As far as the administration, Democrats and their media enablers are concerned, any attempt to mitigate that "paying-for problem" will turn America into a Third World nation of vegetable eaters. Yet the simple truth remains inarguable: absent the genuine entitlement reform critically necessary to get our spending under control, we are headed for national bankruptcy. At that point, even vegetables may be a luxury item.
Freedom Center pamphlets now available on Kindle: Click here.


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Criminal Identity Theft Investigations Increase 66% at IRS
Criminal Identity Theft Investigations Increase 66% at IRS
(Bloomberg) The Internal Revenue Service started 1,492 criminal investigations into the use of tax returns to commit identity theft in the year that ended Sept. 30, a 66 percent increase, the agency said Tuesday.
The data release comes less than a month before the start of the tax-filing season—the time when criminals most often file fake tax returns and claim refunds before legitimate taxpayers can do so.
In a meeting with reporters Wednesday, new IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said curbing identity theft is a priority for the agency.
Rich Weber, chief of criminal investigations at the IRS, said that as recently as two years ago, investigators were devoting less than 5 percent of their resources to identity theft. That's now about 17 to 19 percent, and about 50 percent in places such as Miami and Tampa, Florida, he said in an interview.
Criminal investigators' other priorities include offshore tax evasion, public corruption and narcotics, which often involve money laundering.
"We still continue to file significant cases, but obviously if we're spending more time on ID theft we're not spending as much time on some of those areas," Weber said.
The IRS said the number of recommendations for prosecution and sentencings increased in 2013. Investigations totaled 276 in fiscal 2011 and 898 in fiscal 2012.
Among those prosecuted was a Florida woman, Rashia Wilson, who was ordered to forfeit $2.2 million, according to the IRS.
Some lawmakers and the national taxpayer advocates have criticized the IRS's approach to handling identity theft. They say victims often don't get enough assistance and that it can take too long to restore their accounts.
Legal Shred
11806 S US Hwy 41
Gibsonton, FL 33534

subset: commoncrawl


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A round-up of stories on Washington wine from September 22nd to 30th. Read previous round-ups here.
From around the country…
Wine Spectator writes about Owen Roe opening a new production facility in Washington. They also write about twelve exciting new Washington reds and Amazon trying to get into the wine business again.
San Francisco Business Times writes about Amazon trying again to get into the on-line wine business
Minot Daily News writes about Gard Vintners.
The Lowell Sun writes about red wine summer hits with a callout to Airfield Estates.
From the blogosphere…
Washington Beer writes about more Total Wine stores coming to Washington.
Voracious talks with Rick Small of Woodward Canyon.
Paul Gregutt asks whether we should fret about brett. He also writes about the latest releases from Cayuse.
Jameson Fink writes about Vino Volo's wine chart.
Through the Walla Walla Grapevine writes about Charles Smith. Catie also writes about Result of a Crush.
Northwest Wine Anthem writes about Bookwalter's Notebook Red Wine. They also write about Dick Boushey of Boushey Vineyards.
The Washington Vine writes about Lone Canary.
Zinfandel Chronicles writes about No Girls Grenache.
Wine Peeps writes about Saviah Cellars' The Jack Red Wine.
WineEYak gives some pictures from harvest.
Woodinville Wine Update writes about upcoming events in Woodinville. Shona also writes about EFESTE's winter whites and gives an insider's look at crush.
Under the Grape Tree writes about Airfield Estates.
Lucha Vino writes about a Washington GSM.
From the locals…
The Tri-City Herald writes that Malbec is starting to establish itself.
Writing for the Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt says that Washington wine is stronger with national muscle.
The News Tribune writes about winners and losers with privatization. They also write about Mid-Columbia's grapes.
CBS Seattle gives a guide to local crush events.
The Chronicle writes about Mill Lane Winery.
Northwest Cable News says that booze delivery may be coming to Washington homes. They also say that 2012 could be a year for the record books.
MSNBC Seattle says that 2012 could be a record harvest for Washington.
Leftovers (posts missed from previous weeks)…
The Demystified Vine writes about Matthews Sauvignon Blanc and the Karma Vineyards Griesling.
That's all folks!


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Mother's Day Greeting Cards
It's an occasion like no other, a ,other's day poster, canvas print or art print can definitely put a smile on any mother's face. However, those that want something a little more personal have some other options as well. One such option is a personalized mother's day greeting card, one that will speak volumes about the joy and love between mother and child. Furthermore, the certain mother's day greeting card can be as personal as they can get, so it's always a good idea to inquire a little deeper into the subject.
A worthy celebration - mother's day
We are here because of our mothers, so, a mother's day greeting card should be the least that we give them on the traditional occasion. It comes as no surprise that many people have been exploring the subject and developing the most amazing prints out there. A good mother's day greeting card can be a combination of things. It can be a beautiful well-produced card or even one built by hand and decorated as such. No matter what you choose, the mother's day greeting card will definitely make for a great package.
Will she like it?
There is no doubt that a mother's day greeting card will be a pleasant surprise. Nevertheless, you still have to think it through for a while and decide what aspect of that you want to tinker with. If anything else, the mother's day greeting card will allow you to get more out of the gift if you also write something personal on it.


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Microsoft, Hyperion Partner In BI
Microsoft and Hyperion Solutions say they plan to integrate their business intelligence products in order to provide customers with a broader offering of complementary software.
April 25, 2006
Microsoft Corp. and Hyperion Solutions Corp. on Tuesday said they plan to integrate their business intelligence products in order to provide customers with a broader offering of complementary software.
The collaboration plans, announced at Hyperion's Solutions 2006 conference in Las Vegas, Nev., include integrating Microsoft SQL Server 2005 technologies with Hyperion System 9 BI+. The Microsoft technologies include SQL Server reporting, analysis and integration services.
"We continue to hear from customers that the need for increased interoperability is significant in making the most of existing IT investments," Robert Bernard, general manager of the Global ISV Group at Microsoft, said in a statement.
The effort is expected to enable customers of either company to expand their use of business intelligence by adopting complementary components from either Hyperion or Microsoft. Specifically, Hyperion customers would be able to use Microsoft reporting services to access Hyperion's Essbase Analytics, while also displaying the reports in Hyperion's workspace environment.
In addition, Microsoft customers would be able to access SQL Server Analysis Services data using Hyperion System 9 BI+. Also, the latter system would leverage SQL Server Integration Services for data access.
A timetable for the product integration was not disclosed.
About the Author(s)
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Ken Guest has posted about a whitepaper that he was involved in editing - the PHP for Enterprise/Business Whitepaper:
As far as I know this is the first full English language translation and update of the work done by the Association Francaise des Utilisateurs de PHP (French PHP Users Group). Also there is a lot of new content in the Whitepaper that with regards to how PHP is now utilised in Enterprise. Figures have been updated and techniques available in later versions of PHP have been referenced.
He mentions some of the challenges in the translation and thanks a few others for the effort and contributions they made to the project. The whitepaper (pdf) looks at several key topics of PHP in the Enterprise including: suggestions for architecture, integration issues, concurrent use with other languages and how PHP fits into the web application ecosystem.


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Some people can't handle the grief of others. They don't have that emotional depth to comfort someone as they go through the grieving process, which truly never ends, only changes.
As Laura said, take all the time you need to grieve. No one can tell you to turn your emotions on and off.
When my father passed, my husband told me to get over it, but he is emotionally incapable of understanding grief, as he had no one to grieve. He hated both his parents.
My counsins ( 4 young children) just lost their mom. They found her laying on the floor Monday .I see them Saturday because of the funeral. I have to pray that they have the strength they need to endure. I hope I can be of comfort. I can only imagine what it must feel like.... I can't wait to give them a tight hug and say I love you.. I have to stay strong... This grief saps my energy. Looking forward when pain and grief will be a thing of the pass. REV 21:3,4.
I lost my mother 2 years ago today (September 24, 2014) - it has been a struggle. I often think about her and say to myself "I can call her" - yet those days are gone. I miss her laughter; I miss her jokes. She loved the sound of a good laugh. She had a strong sense of humor. Yet - she was MOM. Oh, how I miss the many conversations - I felt, I will always be able to have with her. When I see some who take the existence of their parents for granted - I have to remind them to embraces these moments while you can - for one day you will have these very moments to cherished and remember. My mother had a very beautiful spirit about herself. She was a very kind and dear person at heart. I am truly holding onto the hope given at John 5:28,29 when I will be re-united and able to see and talk with my mother once again.
Dear to Whom It May Concern,
My heart really goes out to you. Losing someone you love, is not something you can just wake up the next day and be okay about. No, you need time to heal. While you're healing, I want to bring you comfort. Main comfort, I have to share is that you will see your love one again. Whether, you are unfamiliar with the Bible or know about it, it offers promises to mankind that many people are not aware of. If you have your Bible, You'll see at Isaiah 26:19 states that "Thy dead shall live... and the earth shall cast forth the dead." How can we know that it would be right here on earth? Acts 24:15 states "there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust." Seeing that unjust ones will be resurrected, this can't be taking place in heaven. Lastly, I want you to know that this is not God's plan; for us to die and just be resurrected. He views it as an enemy and soon will do away with it. 1 Cor. 15:26 states " The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for reading.
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Sterling Silver Cufflinks
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We just played our first game of Small World: Underground, and we're not sure if we played the Iron Dwarves right.
The Iron Dwarves can get Silver Hammer tokens for occupying Mine regions, and it sounds like those hammer tokens are permanently gained, not used up when the dwarves use them for conquest.
The rules state:
Take your Silver Hammers back in hand and place them off the board, in front of you, where they will wait until the start of your next Conquest phase.
This sure sounds like they earn the 7 Hammers and then have 7 to use every turn as long as they feel like staying active. We played it this way, but the Iron Dwarves dominated heavily because they were also Immortal.
If we played it correctly, my next question for BGSE is going to be: "How do you counter Immortal Iron Dwarves?"


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« Prev | Chapter XI. The possibility of repentance is a… | Next » |
Chapter XI.
The possibility of repentance is a reason why baptism should not be deferred to old age, a practice which is against the will of God in holy Scripture. But it is of no use to practise penance whilst still serving lusts. These must be first subdued.
98. Good, then, is penitence, and if there were no place for it, every one would defer the grace of cleansing by baptism to old age. And a sufficient reason is that it is better, to have a robe to mend, than none to put on; but as that which has been repaired once is restored, so that which is frequently mended is destroyed.
99. And the Lord has given a sufficient warning to those who put off repentance, when He says: "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."31463146 S. Matt. iv. 17. We know not at what hour the thief will come, we know not whether our soul may be required of us this next night. God cast Adam out of Paradise immediately after his fault; there was no delay. At once the fallen were severed from all their enjoyments that they might do penance; at once God clothed them with garments of skins, not of silk.31473147 Gen. iii. 21, 24.
100. And what reason is there for putting 358off? Is it that you may sin yet more? Then because God is good you are evil, and "despise the riches of His goodness and long-suffering."31483148 Rom. ii. 4. But the goodness of the Lord ought rather to draw you to repentance. Wherefore holy David says to all: "Come, let us worship and fall down before Him, and mourn before our Lord Who made us."31493149 Ps. xcv. [xciv.] 6. But for a sinner who has died without repentance, because nothing remains but to mourn grievously and to weep, you find him groaning and saying: "O my son Absalom! my son Absalom!"31503150 2 Sam. [2 Kings] xviii. 33. For him who is wholly dead mourning is without alleviation.
101. But of those who as exiles and banished from their ancestral homes, which the holy law of Moses had assigned them, will be entangled in the errors of the world, you hear him saying: "By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion."31513151 Ps. cxxxvii. [cxxxvi.] 1. He sets forth the wailings of those who have fallen, and shows that they who are living in this condition of passing time and changing circumstances ought to repent, after the example of those who, as a reward for sin, had been led into miserable captivity.
102. But nothing causes such exceeding grief as when any one, lying under the captivity of sin, calls to mind whence he has fallen, because he turned aside to carnal and earthly things, instead of directing his mind in the beautiful ways of the knowledge of God.
103. So you find Adam concealing himself, when he knew that God was present, and wishing to be hidden when called by God with that voice which wounded the soul of him who was hiding: "Adam, where art thou?"31523152 Gen. iii. 9. That is to say, Wherefore hidest thou thyself? Why art thou concealed? Why dost thou avoid Him, Whom thou once didst long to see? A guilty conscience is so burdensome that it punishes itself without a judge, and wishes for covering, and yet is bare before God.
104. And so no one in a state of sin ought to claim a right to or the use of the sacraments, for it is written: "Thou hast sinned, be still."31533153 Gen. iv. 7 [LXX.]. These words occur in the Septuagint only, and would seem to be taken here by St. Ambrose as a warning from God to Cain, not to sacrifice whilst in sin, and so be applied to those sinners whom he enjoins not to communicate before they repent. As David says in the Psalm lately quoted: "We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof;" and again: "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"31543154 Ps. cxxxvii. [cxxxvi.] 2, 4. For if the flesh wars against the mind, and is not subject to the guidance of the Spirit, that is a strange land which is not subdued by the toil of the cultivator, and so cannot produce the fruits of charity, patience, and peace. It is better, then, to be still when you cannot practise the works of repentance, lest in the very acts of repentance there be that which afterward will need further repentance. For if it be once entered upon and not rightly carried out, it obtains not the result of a first repentance and takes away the use of a later one.31553155 I do not feel sure of the meaning of this passage, but it appears to be as above, that a person going through the outward exercises of penance without inward repentance, gains no benefit, and as sinners were not admitted to a second course of penance, does away with his chance for the future. [Ed.]
105. When, then, the flesh resists, the soul must be intent upon God, and if results do not follow, let not faith fail. And if the enticements of the flesh come upon us, or the powers of the enemy attack us, let the soul keep in submission to God. For we are then specially oppressed when the flesh yields. And some there are who trouble heavily the wretched soul, seeking to deprive it of all protection. To which case the words apply: "Rase it, rase it, even to the foundations."31563156 Ps. cxxxvii. [cxxxvi.] 7.
106. And David, pitying her, says: "O wretched daughter of Babylon."31573157 Ps. cxxxvii. [cxxxvi.] 8 [LXX.]. Wretched indeed, as being the daughter of Babylon, when she ceased to be the daughter of Jerusalem.31583158 This passage is another instance of the way in which St. Ambrose, like many other early writers, lost sight of the original meaning of the text in drawing allegorical lessons from it. The "daughter of Babylon," i.e. the people, had never been a "daughter of God," nor was the dashing of the children against the rock ever intended to bear the beautiful interpretation given to it by our author. And yet he calls for a healer for her, and says: "Blessed is he who shall take thy little ones and dash them against the rock."31593159 Ps. cxxxvii. [cxxxvi.] 9. That is to say, shall dash all corrupt and filthy thoughts against Christ, Who by His fear and His rebuke will break down all motions against reason, so as, if any one is seized by an adulterous love, to extinguish the fire, that he may by his zeal put away the love of a harlot, and deny himself that he may gain Christ.
107. We have then learned that we must do penance, and this at a time when the heat of luxury and sin is giving way; and that we, when under the dominion of sin, must show ourselves Godfearing by refraining, rather than allowing ourselves in evil practices. For if it is said to Moses when he was desiring to draw nearer: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet,"31603160 Ex. iii. 5. how much 359more must we free the feet of our soul from the bonds of the body, and clear our steps from all connection with this world.
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FDA Previously Granted Rolling Review for BLA
VANCOUVER, Washington, Mar 18, 2019 – CytoDyn Inc. (otc.qb:CYDY), ("CytoDyn" or the "Company") a late stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab (PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, today announced that it has filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the non-clinical portion of its Biologics License Application (BLA) using the FDA's Rolling Review process. The non-clinical portion constitutes the first of three sections of the BLA submission for leronlimab (PRO 140) as a combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients. The FDA previously granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) and recently granted Rolling Review for leronlimab (PRO140), which facilitates frequent interactions with the FDA review team. The Rolling Review process allows CytoDyn to submit individual sections of the BLA for review, rather than waiting on FDA review until all three sections are completed and filed.
"This is the most important milestone yet in CytoDyn's history," stated Dr. Nader Pourhassan, President, CEO and Director of CytoDyn. "We continue to execute on the submission of our BLA and are well positioned for potential revenue in 2020, subject to final approval. Our team is working diligently to complete the clinical and CMC portions, which represent the remaining two components of the BLA. We are also currently evaluating certain licensing opportunities relating to the commercialization of leronlimab upon approval," added Dr. Pourhassan.
About Leronlimab (PRO 140)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a "fast track" designation to leronlimab (PRO 140) as a combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients. Leronlimab (PRO 140) is an investigational humanized IgG4 mAb that blocks CCR5, a cellular receptor that appears to play multiple roles with implications in HIV infection, tumor metastases and immune signaling. Leronlimab (PRO 140) has successfully completed nine Phase 1/2/3 clinical trials in over 700 people, including a successful pivotal Phase 3 trial in combination with standard anti-retroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients.
In the setting of HIV/AIDS, leronlimab (PRO 140) belongs to a new class of therapeutics called viral-entry inhibitors; it masks CCR5, thus protecting healthy T cells from viral infection by blocking the predominant HIV (R5) subtype from entering those cells. Leronlimab (PRO 140) has been the subject of nine clinical trials, each of which demonstrated that leronlimab can significantly reduce or control HIV viral load in humans. The leronlimab (PRO 140) antibody appears to be a powerful antiviral agent leading to potentially fewer side effects and less frequent dosing requirements compared with daily drug therapies currently in use.
In the setting of cancer, research has shown that CCR5 likely plays a central role in tumor invasion and metastasis and that increased CCR5 expression is an indicator of disease status in several cancers. Moreover, research has shown that drugs that block CCR5 can block tumor metastases in laboratory and animal models of aggressive breast and prostate cancer. CytoDyn is conducting additional research with leronlimab (PRO 140) in the cancer setting and plans to initiate additional Phase 2 human clinical trials, in addition to triple-negative breast cancer, when appropriate.
The CCR5 receptor also appears to play a central role in modulating immune cell trafficking to sites of inflammation and may be crucial for the development of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and other inflammatory conditions. Clinical studies by others further support the concept that blocking CCR5 using a chemical inhibitor can reduce the clinical impact of acute GvHD without significantly affecting the engraftment of transplanted bone marrow stem cells. CytoDyn is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical study with leronlimab (PRO 140) to further support the concept that the CCR5 receptor on engrafted cells is critical for the development of acute GvHD and that blocking this receptor from recognizing certain immune signaling molecules is a viable approach to mitigating acute GvHD. The FDA has granted "orphan drug" designation to leronlimab (PRO 140) for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).
About U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation and Rolling Review
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Fast Track Designation (FTD) program is designed to expedite clinical development and submission of applications for products with the potential to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and address unmet medical needs. FTD facilitates frequent interactions with the FDA review team, including meetings to discuss the product's development plan and written communications about issues such as trial design and use of biomarkers. Products that receive FTD, like other products, may be eligible for accelerated approval and priority review if relevant criteria are met. Such products may also be eligible for Rolling Review, which allows a developer to submit individual sections of a product's applications for review as they are ready, rather than waiting until all sections are complete.
About CytoDyn
CytoDyn is a biotechnology company developing innovative treatments for multiple therapeutic indications based on leronlimab (PRO 140), a novel humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the CCR5 receptor. CCR5 appears to play a key role in the ability of HIV to enter and infect healthy T-cells. The CCR5 receptor also appears to be implicated in tumor metastasis and in immune-mediated illnesses, such as graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) and NASH. CytoDyn has successfully completed a Phase 3 pivotal trial with leronlimab (PRO 140) in combination with standard anti-retroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients. CytoDyn plans to seek FDA approval for leronlimab (PRO 140) in combination therapy and plans to complete the filing of a Biologics License Application (BLA) in 2019 for that indication. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 3 investigative trial with leronlimab (PRO 140) as a once-weekly monotherapy for HIV-infected patients and, plans to initiate a registration-directed study of leronlimab monotherapy indication, which if successful, could support a label extension. Clinical results to date from multiple trials have shown that leronlimab (PRO 140) can significantly reduce viral burden in people infected with HIV with no reported drug-related serious adverse events (SAEs). Moreover, results from a Phase 2b clinical trial demonstrated that leronlimab (PRO 140) monotherapy can prevent viral escape in HIV-infected patients, with some patients on leronlimab monotherapy remaining virally suppressed for more than four years. CytoDyn is also conducting a Phase 2 trial to evaluate leronlimab (PRO 140) for the prevention of GvHD and has received clearance to initiate a clinical trial with leronlimab (PRO 140) in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. More information is at www.cytodyn.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as "believes," "hopes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates" and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Company's forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and actual results could vary materially from those contained in or expressed by such statements due to risks and uncertainties including: (i) the sufficiency of the Company's cash position, (ii) the Company's ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations, (iii) the Company's ability to meet its debt obligations, if any, (iv) the Company's ability to enter into partnership or licensing arrangements with third parties, (v) the Company's ability to identify patients to enroll in its clinical trials in a timely fashion, (vi) the Company's ability to achieve approval of a marketable product, (vii) the design, implementation and conduct of the Company's clinical trials, (viii) the results of the Company's clinical trials, including the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, (ix) the market for, and marketability of, any product that is approved, (x) the existence or development of vaccines, drugs, or other treatments that are viewed by medical professionals or patients as superior to the Company's products, (xi) regulatory initiatives, compliance with governmental regulations and the regulatory approval process, (xii) general economic and business conditions, (xiii) changes in foreign, political, and social conditions, and (xiv) various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company urges investors to consider specifically the various risk factors identified in its most recent Form 10-K, and any risk factors or cautionary statements included in any subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release.


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Additionally, I have seen any number of changes which have been either semi-official or undertaken by parishioners. We hold hands with the people standing next to us when we say the Our Father. The older minute of silence to remember those for whom we wish to pray has changed to asking for whom we have prayers and parishioners announcing names and reasons to pray for certain individuals. When I was young the only person I remember crossing his forehead, lips, and heart before the priest read the Gospel was the priest (asking Christ to be in his mind, on his lips and in his heart). Now everybody in the church does it. And we appear to have co-opted that most Protestant of Protestant songs "Amazing Grace." It's strange hearing a song written by an Episcopalian Preacher which was the theme of the Second Great Awakening (which strongly established the Methodist and Baptist denominations in the U.S.) being played once or twice a month at the beginning or end of a Catholic Mass.
Yesterday, the Church introduced the new English translation of the Roman Missal. Priests everywhere led their churches through new versions of the prayers that many of them had been saying their entire lives (including me). We all stumbled as we would say prayers which were almost instinctual, but aren't the form of the new translation.
The one which caught pretty much everyone at least once during the Mass was "And with your spirit." Several times during Mass the priest says "The Lord be with you." Ever since the first translation into English the congregation has answered "And also with you." It's a knee jerk reaction by now. Yesterday, that answer changed to "And with your spirit." This is a direct, and much better, translation of the Latin "Et cum spiritu tuo." This translation obviously corrects a failure in the original translation, but it was also the one which tripped people up the most.
The rest of the translations are a mixed bag. If you've ever done any serious translation work, you know there are those who tend toward simplicity of understanding and those who cleave to the idea that translations must be as true as possible to the original even if it means adding unecessary prepositions and conjunctions1 and using words which are almost never used in the receiving language. The original English translation was a translation which valued simplicity. The new translation values accuracy.
The Penitential Act
I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
This translation does a much better job of emphasizing the continuing nature of willful, sinful behavior on the part of man. I think the original may be seen as a reflection of the time when it was translated. It is an accurate, but simple translation. The new translation brings home the nature of the failing much better.
More interesting is the new translation of the Nicene Creed. I don't have time to get into that this morning and this is a busy week, so look for a discussion of that next Saturday or Sunday.
1 Prepositions and conjunctions are always a place where translators will vary because they vary in shades of meaning and use from language to language such that they often don't have exact translations and can be translated as a couple different words or even just as a comma.


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This week the hydrangeas in the front garden have absolutely "popped", thanks no doubt to all the wonderful rain we've been having!
So, I decided to show them off and join Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound for my first Pink Saturday.
Before linking up I visited Beverly's blog to check out "the rules" and discovered a delightful way to get to know bloggers I've never met before.
This is Beverly's challenge:
We have a weekly challenge for you to visit the blog of at least one participant that you have never visited before. Then next Saturday include that blog and a link in your post. Quite a few of you have been done this challenge, and have met some of the great Pink Saturday participants. Thank you for sharing with us.
As I browsed the thumbnail pix, from last weeks particpants, a jug of gorgeous white hydrangeas caught my eye and with just one click I had "met" a new blogger friend.
Pam @ White Ironstone Cottage who is hosting a new weekly gathering which she is calling "Treasure Chest Friday".
Don't you love living in blogland!
Where else can you meet so many interesting people whilst sitting in a comfortable chair, tea cup to hand, dog lying by your feet, looking out at a lovely garden and all without getting dressed up and putting on make up?
I'll be sharing these beautiful flowers also with
Harriet @ Hey Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday,
The Tablescaper and Seasonal Sunday
Mary @the little redhouse for Mosaic Monday.
Bon weekend a tout!


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Music labels and radio broadcasters can't agree on much, including whether radio should be forced to turn over hundreds of millions of dollars a year to pay for the music it plays. But the two sides can agree on this: Congress should mandate that FM radio receivers be built into cell phones, PDAs, and other portable electronics.
The Consumer Electronics Association, whose members build the devices that would be affected by such a directive, is incandescent with rage. "The backroom scheme of the [National Association of Broadcasters] and RIAA to have Congress mandate broadcast radios in portable devices, including mobile phones, is the height of absurdity," thundered CEA president Gary Shapiro. Such a move is "not in our national interest."
"Rather than adapt to the digital marketplace, NAB and RIAA act like buggy-whip industries that refuse to innovate and seek to impose penalties on those that do."
But the music and radio industries say it's a consumer-focused proposition, one that would provide "more music choices."
A grand bargain
Autumn, "that season of mists and mellow fruitfulness," approaches, and as Congress returns soon from recess, it will find its autumn agenda packed with supplicants who want the government to put its stamp on private negotiations. Google and Verizon famously released their own legislative framework on network neutrality earlier this month, and the broadcasters and music labels are nearing completion on a similar framework of their own.
In this case, the framework concerns public performance rights. Radio broadcasters and music labels are at each other's throats over the question of whether radio ought to pay performance rights to labels or artists when it plays their music on the air (currently, only songwriters get paid, not artists or labels). A bill percolating in Congress, the Performance Rights Act, would rationalize performance rights in the US; satellite radio and webcasters currently pay full performance fees to labels or artists, but radio does not, thanks to a longstanding exemption in copyright law.
The bill has already passed out of committee in both the House and Senate, but it is vigorously opposed by the broadcasters; they argue that radio provides valuable promotion to artists and shouldn't have to pay. Congress tried to force two of the main lobbying groups, the National Association of Broadcasters and musicFIRST (RIAA is a member), to hash out a solution last November. None was forthcoming, but talks have continued since then and are now close to completion.
The two sides hope to strike a grand bargain: radio would agree to pay around $100 million a year (less than it feared), but in return it would get access to a larger market through the mandated FM radio chips in portable devices.
"As regards the chip, this is a key issue for the radio industry," musicFIRST told Ars today. "musicFIRST, too, likes FM chips in cell phones, PDAs, etc. It gives consumers access to more music choices."
As the contours of this deal came into sight last week, the consumer electronics companies saw the prospect of a new government mandate, and one that was transparently about propping up a particular (and aging) business model.
"The performance royalty legislation voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee does not include this onerous and backward-looking radio requirement," said the CEA's Shapiro, and he wants to keep it that way.
The deal has not been finalized, we're told. When it is, the two sides still need to convince Congress to go along, but they're hopeful something can be wrapped up late this year or early in 2011.
Update: NAB stresses to us that no deal has been finalized. "However, if there is a decision made by the Board of Directors to go forward and seek legislation, including radio-enabled chips in mobile devices in possible legislation seems to us to be a reasonable idea," says NAB's Dennis Wharton.
As for the CEA criticism, "It's no surprise that CEA opposes this, since trade associations generally always oppose new rules. CEA also opposed DTV tuners in digital television sets; the FCC decided that having DTV tuners in TV sets was a good thing, and passed a rule that gave consumers access to local TV stations on DTV sets.
"We would argue that having radio capability on cell phones and other mobile devices would be a great thing, particularly from a public safety perspective. There are few if any technologies that match the reliability of broadcast radio in terms of getting lifeline information to the masses."


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Sandsage Bison Range Wildlife Area
Located in the sandsage prairie, the bison range remains one of the few tracts of native sandsage prairie not converted to irrigated cropland. The presence of several tall grass species (i.e. sand bluestem, giant sandreed and sand lovegrass) and sand sagebrush makes this southern plains ecosystem truly unique. Interesting critters that call the sandsage prairie home include the lesser prairie chicken, spotted ground squirrel, kangaroo rat, scaled quail, black-tailed jack rabbit, mule deer, and western hognose snake.
Hunting: Hunting is allowed on the area by posted notice only. Although more restrictive than most public hunting areas, the range provides excellent hunting opportunities.
In particular, both bobwhite and scaled quail are present in huntable numbers, as well as dove, deer, pheasant & rabbit. Hunters have also had good success taking coyotes. Pay close attention to all posted regulations. Individual pastures may have additional restrictions (i.e. north pasture open to shotgun and archery only). Further hunting information may be obtained from the area office.
Fishing: Limited fishing opportunities exist at the sand pit, located in the north portion of the range. Channel Catfish and Rainbow Trout are stocked on a seasonal basis (when sufficient water is present). To find the sand pit, follow Sagebrush Road west for approximately 0.5 miles from Business Highway 83.
Tours: Guided tours to see the bison and other attractions are available by reservation. Visitors are urged to schedule tours in advance by contacting the Friends of Sandsage Bison Range at (620)276-9400. Self-guided tours are not available at this time. Visit the FOSBR website for more information.
Special Links:
Friends of Sandsage Bison Range: http://fosbrgc.wix.com/fosbr
Lee Richardson Zoo: http://www.garden-city.org/zoo/zoolayout.html?home.html
Area Manager: Tom Norman
Phone: 620-276-8886
KDWP Region 3 Office phone: 620-227-8609
Location: The Sandsage Bison Range & Wildlife Area (formally known as the Finney Game Refuge) is located approximately 0.5 miles south of Garden City on the west side of Business Highway 83. This 3, 760 acre area provides visitors a unique opportunity to view the sandsage prairie ecosystem of southwest Kansas. Not only is the area noted for its unique plant community, but it is also home to the oldest publicly owned bison herd in Kansas.
Area News
... linked articles soon to come
Sandsage Bison Range in the News!
SSBR Small Talk..
Check for more SSBR news at these sites!
- The bison are fenced in with a high voltage short duration electric fence. Visitors are urged not to come into contact with the fence at any time as contact may cause personal injury.
- Access the property only through established parking areas and gates. Do not crawl over or through fences.
- Vehicles are allowed in designated parking areas only.
- No camping is permitted.
- Consult area information boards or the area manager for additional information concerning rules and regulations.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
The Bison Range was established in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson granted 3,021 acres of the Kansas National Forest holdings to the State of Kansas for use as a game preserve. Another 649 acres has been added to the original land grant bringing the property to its current size of 3,760 acres.
National Forest: Prior to state ownership the bison range was included in the federally owned and operated Kansas National Forest. The Kansas National Forest project began in 1905 as a 30,000 acre public reservation called the Garden City Forest Reserve.
The reserve was established on a five year trial basis with the purpose of providing a place for experimental tree planting to determine which species of trees were most suitable for propagation in the Great Plains. In 1908 another 272,387 acres of sandsage prairie located south of the Arkansas River and west to the Kansas-Colorado border were added to the reserve. With the additional acreage, the reserve's name was changed to the Kansas National Forest. By 1915 more than 800,000 seedlings had been planted on approximately 1,000 acres of the National Forest property. Although the project was considered a failure, a small portion of the original forest can still seen in the northwest corner of our middle pasture. At this location, a few surviving trees planted by the work crews of the early 1900's remain as a reminder of the Kansas National Forest.
Bison Herd: While the property has seen many changes in its nearly 100 yrs of existence, the bison have remained the primary attraction for visitors. Bison were first re-introduced on the range in October 1924 when one bull and two cows arrived from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Records indicate a bull from the Beatty Ranch near Lakin, KS was added the following year and another ten head originating from the Charles Goodnight herd were added in 1929. Herd size has fluctuated over the years and varies depending on pasture conditions. It has been as high as 80-100 head. Because of extreme drought conditions the herd size was reduced in 2012 to 10 head. As of Fall 2014, there are 19 head. If weather conditions should continue to remain favorable, staff will slowly begin expanding the herd to 50 - 60 head.
- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: 37.912174 -100.889377
- Click for more information
- Type of Facility: Pier
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.956085 -100.892058
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- Type of Facility: Vault Toilet
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.956619 -100.892646
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- Type of Facility: Fishing Area
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.956667 -100.892981
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- Type of Facility: Information Center
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.949048 -100.880998
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In pretty much every transformation protocol I've seen SOC medium is used to grow the bacteria for a short while after the tranformation and before plating.
I've usually substituted LB medium for this step for easy retransformations, but I gather that the SOC medium is supposed to make some difference in efficiency, or else the simpler LB medium would be recommended in the protocols.
Why is SOC medium used for transformations? What difference does substituting with LB medium cause for the transformation efficiency?


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Kenny Chesney Explains 'Welcome to the Fishbowl' Album Title
We recently reported that Kenny Chesney unveiled the album artwork, title and track listing for his upcoming record, 'Welcome to the Fishbowl.' And while the name's origin did have something to do with the beach, Chesney's 13th studio album isn't titled for the ocean or the aquatic life found within it. In fact, the name came as a result of a comment Chesney made about his lifestyle while visiting the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, Fla. with friends.
"We walked in, and it was packed," Chesney tells USA Today. "There was about 20 minutes of people coming up, saying hello, wanting to get something signed." While this scenario is Chesney's everyday reality, the celebrity life seemed to hit his friends for the first time.
"After that died down, one of those guys said, 'I didn't realize your life was like this,'" Chesney explains. "I said, 'Hey, man, welcome to the fishbowl.' As soon as I said it, I realized that I was going to write a song about how our world and our culture is shrinking." But it's not just a song about the annoyances of being a recognizable face. It's quite the opposite, actually, as Chesney even calls out celebrities who would complain about it.
"In fact, at the end of the song I speak to celebrities and say, 'You asked for this,'" he says. "But you don't have to be in the public eye for your business to be everybody's business. And that's just the way it is."
Chesney's new album hits stores June 19. The 'You and Tequila' singer performed with his Brothers of the Sun Tour companion Tim McGraw at the ACM Awards last weekend, and now the guys are preparing for the next leg of their tour, which commences June 2 in Tampa, Fla.


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The GOP "War on Women" has taken many forms but Senate Democrats are now determined to fight back, pushing for the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA) which is legislation that protects women who sue when they discover they are being paid less than their male counterparts. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said the vote will take place on Monday, June 4th (now said to be Tuesday, June 5th).
In an ideal world, the PFA wouldn't cause a Democrat vs. Republican fight, as it is an obvious necessity and a step toward equality for all citizens. But in this hyper-partisan environment, anything that seeks to make the playing field more level for women becomes a battle The PFA is supposed to help end pay discrimination for women by closing loopholes that make it very difficult to enforce fair pay labor laws. Legislation would prohibit employer retaliation, allow workers to join class action lawsuits, as well as ensure that the victims received back pay from discriminatory employers. For some women the difference in pay for a man that does the same job can add up to $24,000 dollars a year in lost wages and nearly $431,000 over the course of a lifetime.
Here's the thing: as it stands now the Senate vote on the PFA is going to be very close—but it is not expected to pass. The importance of the act in framing the debate in key Senate races however cannot be understated. For example, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has promised to make this fight to pay equity a central tenet of her re-election campaign. Another key Senate race where the PFA will take center stage is the race to watch in Massachusetts between Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) and Harvard Law Professor and democratic darling Elizabeth Warren. In 2010, Senator Brown voted against a previous component of PFA and that vote will allow Warren to attack him hard for being against pay equity at a time when the war on women is in full swing.
PFA may also be a factor in the presidential race. Republican challenger Mitt Romney has yet to even take a position on the legislation. After his reluctant support of the Lily Ledbetter Act, Romney is under an intense microscope to seem supportive of the issues that matter most to women voters. No matter what some outlier polling suggests, the gender gap between Romney and President Obama is real and Romney needs to be able to come up with a response more satisfying than, "no comment."
Pay equity is a huge issue and it deserves more attention certainly from male politicians who are running to represent women. If it's not a big concern for them then women should take note and vote them out. It's 2012, and there is no more time for women to settle for less.


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View the chart "The Effects of the Curse" (4.2 MB).
How do I deal with cancer? Why did God allow evil in the world? Why do snakes appear designed to kill? God's curse is a historical reality, and we can see its results in everyday life. Don't miss this special issue, which will give you the tools to tackle questions about evil and its true origin.
Browse Issue SubscribeAnswers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.


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Interpreting some charts about guns
Jan 23, 2013
Felix linked to a set of charts about guns in the U.S. (and elsewhere). The original charts, by Liz Fosslien, are found here.
I like the clean style used by Fosslien. Some of the charts are thought-provoking. Many of them may raise more questions than they answer. Here are a few that caught my eye.
A simplistic interpretation would claim that banning handguns is futile, and may even have an adverse impact on murder rate. However, this chart does not reveal the direction of causality. Did some countries ban handguns because they are reacting to higher violence? If that is the case, this chart is confirming that the countries with handgun bans are a self-selected group.
The U.S. is an outlier, both in terms of firearm ownership and firearm homicides. This makes the analysis much harder because the U.S. is really in a class of its own. It's not at all clear whether there is a positive correlation in the cluster below, and even if there is, whether we can draw a straight line up to the U.S. dot is also dubious.
Fosslien is being cheeky to deny us the identity of the other outlier, the country with few firearms but even higher death rate from intentional homicide. These scatter plots are great by the way to show bivariate distributions.
I'd still prefer a line chart for this type of data but this particular paired bar chart works for me as well. The contents of this chart is a shock to me.
I just don't get this one. Why is there a fan?


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Affiliation: Simon Fraser University
Robyn Woodward is with Simon Fraser University, and she holds her degrees from Simon Fraser (Ph.D.), Texas A&M University, University College, Cardiff, and Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Her fields of research are underwater archaeology and maritime history; she is currently the project archaeologist for the Institute of Nautical Archaeology's Yukon River Survey, and directs the excavation of Sevilla la Nueva in Jamaica. Professor Woodward is the AIA's 2012/2013 McCann/Taggart Lecturer.


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VANCOUVER, B.C. – Mission Ready Services Inc. (TSX-V: MRS) – Mission Ready Services Inc. ("Mission Ready" or "MRSI") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Representation Agreement (the "Agreement") with Heapsylon, LLC ("Heapsylon") through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Protect The Force Inc. ("Protect The Force" or "PTF"). The Agreement appoints Protect The Force as Heapsylon's representative of its products to the US Federal Government and affiliated agencies.
Protect The Force will leverage its vast network of key decision makers within the US Federal Government, Department of Defense and First Responder markets to provide Heapsylon with manufacturing representation services for their flagship Sensoria product line which includes the Sensoria Fitness T-Shirt, Sensoria Fitness Sports-Bra and the Sensoria Fitness Socks.
As a potentially lifesaving healthcare solution, the Sensoria® technology provides systems and services that are able to monitor patients remotely—and around the clock—to prevent, manage and detect falls, foot injuries or complications, collect patient data, reduce costs and readmissions, and provide better quality care to patients.
The Sensoria® smart sock is a working prototype that is equipped with 100% textile sensors that connect magnetically to an electronic anklet. It measures plantar pressure and force, and can wirelessly transmit the data to everything from a mobile device to Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act compliant cloud based repository system for analytics and behavioral feedback. Direct, real-time, and actionable patient feedback is provided via a smartphone application. Clinical scenarios addressable with Sensoria® include, rehabilitation, peripheral neuropathy, fall detection, fall prevention, prosthetics, and decubitus ulcers.
Francisco Martinez, Chief Technical Officer of Mission Ready states, "As a Company, we operate with a unified belief that great success is realized by staying ahead of the curve, pioneering improved technologies in emerging markets and constantly striving to identify innovative ways to enhance current products and streamline existing processes. The Sensoria® product line is an excellent fit with this mandate and we are excited to work with Heapsylon to increase their product saturation and create new marketplaces with an immediate focus on the medical community and the Department of Defense."
About Heapsylon
Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, Heapsylon develops human instrumentation, software and smart-fabric enabled wearable devices that improve people's lives. The proprietary software and e-textiles sensors enable Sensoria® powered apparel to become valuable devices for health and fitness.
For further information on Heapsylon, visit http://www.heapsylon.com/
About Protect The Force Inc.
Protect The Force is a strategic consulting firm specializing in providing leading manufacturers with relationship management, product development, acquisition & contracting expertise, and sales & marketing support geared towards successfully selling to the U.S. Federal Government.
Protect The Force offers over 100 years of combined experience in developing products, contracting, and selling to the federal government, first responder and tactical markets through open-market procurements, teaming arrangements and a variety of federal contract tools.
About Mission Ready
MRSI was formed to meet a critical need of one of the world's largest customers, the US Government and in particular the Departments of Defence, Homeland Security and Justice and various other agencies such as law enforcement, first responders and the many others worldwide that help to safeguard our health and security.
Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, MRSI has three distinct, synergistic operating divisions:
- Strategic consulting services and manufacturers representation
- Equipment inspection, cleaning/decontamination and repair services of personal protection equipment
- Product research and development
MRSI's mission is to save lives and enhance the performance of military personnel, first responders, and those who protect us by working to ensure they are equipped with the best possible personal protective equipment.
MRSI's management team offers over 100 years of combined industry experience and is composed of industry experts in developing products, contracting, and selling to the federal government, first responders and tactical markets through open market procurements, teaming arrangements, and a variety of federal contract tools.
For further information, visit the Company's website at MissionReady.ca or contact:
Terry Nixon – Director, Corporate Communications
Telephone: 1.877.479.7778
Investor Relations
Mission Ready Services Inc.
(signed "Rod Reum")
Rod Reum,
President & CEO
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should" or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Mission Ready Services Inc. as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Mission Ready Services Inc. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable. Although Mission Ready Services Inc. has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Mission Ready Services Inc. does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


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Congratulations are in order for Monica Brown and her hubby of three years, Phoenix Suns star Shannon.
According to reports, the happy couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Laiyah, into the world today.
Shannon shared the good news with his Instagram followers by posting his first father-daughter pic. "I THANK GOD for her," he wrote in the caption. "JOY has been restored in my LIFE!!!"
MUST READ: Congrats! Monica And Shannon Brown Expecting Baby Girl
MUST READ: Black Love: Monica & Shannon Brown's Sweetest Moments
The proud parents announced their pregnancy in May. This latest addition to the Brown family joins three big brothers, Rocko, Romelo and Shannon Jr.
Details about Monica's delivery have yet to be released, but we are sure the R&B singer is showering her new precious tot with tons of love and affection!
Baby On Board: Monica Confirms Pregancy & Shows Off Her New Bump
See Monica Work It In Her Christian Louboutin 'Pitou' Booties (And Buy Them Too!)
Check Out This Gallery
Monica Brown Gives Birth & Shares First Baby Photo Of Laiyah! was originally published on hellobeautiful.com


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Should Argentina's Messi have ditched the sports drink in the second half? Study casts doubt on soccer blood sugar effect
Writing in the Journal of Athletic Training, by UK and Australia-based academics Mark Russell, David Benton and Michael Kingsley say their study is the first to document a transient lowering of blood glucose concentrations during routine consumption of such drinks during competitive team sport.
Russell et al. say the efficacy of carbohydrate-based fluid supplementation for 'high-intensity, intermittent activity' sports teams could be improved to maintain high blood glucose concentrations in a 90-minute match, and note that the regime they followed is recommended by the powerful American College of Sports Medicine.
"A 6% CHO-electrolyte beverage ingested two hours before and throughout soccer match play initially elevated blood glucose concentrations relative to ingestion of PL throughout the first half of exercise," they write.
"However, a sharp decline in blood glucose concentrations occurred in both trials during the passive rest period, and blood glucose concentrations were similar between conditions throughout the second half."
Swansea City academy players drink sports beverage and placebo
The team tested 10 male trainee soccer players with an average age of 15.6 years, all of whom were on the books of Welsh club Swansea City in second-tier league the Championship.
The scientists performed two trials using carbohydrate (CHO) and placebo (PL) drinks, separated by one week and completed in a counterbalanced, double blind, crossover fashion.
Players were told to refrain from strenuous exercise and caffeine consumption in the two days preceding testing sessions, and all kept food diaries for the same period prior to the tests.
Urine and blood samples were taken prior to the tests before players ate a standard 1,470kj meal – 62% carbohydrates, 25% fats, 13% proteins and 500ml of the treatment beverage.
After 90 minutes rest following the meal, the players spent 30 minutes warming up, before playing two matches against a rival academy team of a similar standard.
The players and formations were consistent for both teams across the matches, and the referee was the same.
Blood samples taken throughout match
During the CHO trial, players drank a CHO-electrolyte beverage with 6% sucrose, 23 mmol L-1 (millimols/liter) sodium and 14 mmol L-1 chloride, while the PL drink was identical in terms of electrolyte content, but void of CHO and sweetened with sodium saccharin; both drinks were flavored with a commercial fruit cordial.
Fingertip blood samples were taken from all 10 outfield players during each 15-minute time point in the game, of which there were five in all. One player left the pitch on two minutes, after he was tested another followed.
During their absence from the pitch one substitute player joined the match and played in their position.
"We believe that we are the first to document a transient lowering of blood glucose concentrations while players were routinely ingesting a CHO-electrolyte beverage during competitive play of a team sport such as soccer," Russell et al. write.
So why was this occurring? The scientists say blood glucose concentrations fell 30% during the 15-minute halftime rest periods in both matches, and were similar in both matches for the remainder of play.
Current carbohydrate-fluid replacement strategies lacking?
Citing Bangsbo (2007) they write: "Researchers have speculated that an increased glucose uptake by the previously active muscles, lowered catecholamine [stress hormones with hyperglycemic responses triggered during high-intensity exercise] concentrations and reduced stimulation of liver glycogenolysis can cause a transient reduction in blood glucose concentrations at the onset of the second half."
Russell et al. note that their supplementation regime was consistent with nutritional guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine, the largest sports medicine institute in the world.
"Our findings suggested that current CHO-fluid-replacement strategies do not increase blood glucose concentrations in the second half of a soccer match play when the halftime recovery period is passive," they write, adding that blood glucose concentrations were similar in the second half of both matches due to the transient reductions from peak values that occurred at half time.
Title: 'Carbohydrate Ingestion Before and During Soccer Match Play and Blood Glucose and Lactate Concentrations'
Authors: Mark Russell, David Benton, Michael Kingsley
Source: Journal of Athletic Training, Volume 49, No.3, June 2014, doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.12


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Florida mom drove to West Virginia with daughter's body
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - A woman drove for two days with her dead 11-year-old daughter in her truck before hitting a guard rail in West Virginia, where authorities say witnesses saw her dragging the body into the woods.
The driver, 37-year-old Erica Newsome, has been jailed on charges of concealing the body of her daughter, Kaye-lea Plummer.
The Pocahontas Times reports that Newsome told authorities after Sunday's crash that they left Jacksonville on Friday to drive to the home of the girl's father in Buffalo, New York.
State Police Sgt. Herby Barlow told the newspaper that it was obvious the girl did not die from injuries in the accident.
Barlow said a couple traveling on the same highway reported seeing Newsome remove a body from her vehicle and drag it over a hill. They were found on an old logging road about 150 feet beyond an embankment, he said.
The mother was jailed on $50,000 bail while investigators search for evidence in Florida.
"At this time, foul play is suspected in the child's death and we believe the death occurred in Jacksonville, Florida," the sheriff's office there said.
The girl's father, Donath Plummer, told WJXT4 television in Jacksonville that Newsome texted him Saturday morning, saying she was bringing their daughter to Buffalo.
He said they married in 2007 and separated two years later. He said he hadn't seen them since Newsome moved with Kaye-lea to Jacksonville in 2014, but he would check on his daughter regularly by phone.
"We didn't always agree on everything, but she was a great mother. I don't know how this could have happened," Plummer said. "Something is very, very wrong. She needs help. She really needs help."


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We're almost halfway through the year and what a great start it's been to 2019! The Power BI team continued to deliver some of the most anticipated features in the month of May. We were also heads down planning for the Microsoft Business Applications Summit, where we look forward to connecting with many of you there next week! In the meantime, here's a quick rundown of what we announced in last month:
- Report commenting
- Custom navigation for Power BI Apps
- Governing Power BI visuals within organizations
- Enhanced e-mail attachment support for paginated reports
- May update for on-premises data gateway
- Updates to the Power BI mobile apps
- Roadmap updates
Report commenting
We kicked off May by announcing commenting for Power BI reports. Gone are the days of taking screenshots and starting conversations about your data over e-mail. With report commenting, you can directly add comments to report pages or specific visuals without switching context. Power BI will also automatically capture your report view, so others reading the comment can view the report exactly as you did when writing the comment. In addition, you can also @mention other individuals within your organization to grab their attention. The @mentioned users will receive an email and a push notification on their Power BI mobile app. Try it yourself – start a conversation on your favorite report or check out the blog post for more information.
Custom navigation for Power BI Apps
We super charged Power BI apps by giving reporting teams the ability to customize navigation for end users, so they can find content quickly and understand the relationships between different reports and dashboards. In addition, we also added the ability for app owners to configure the app name, set a theme color, choose a new icon, and even adding a support URL to a new or existing app. Apps will never look the same again – check it out or read the documentation to create one yourself.
Governing Power BI visuals within organizations
We provided an in-depth guidance on how administrators can govern custom visuals within their organization. This is a must-know if you are an admin in Power BI. Learn more
Enhanced e-mail attachment support for paginated reports
We enhanced the e-mail subscriptions feature for paginated reports in Power BI. In addition to PDF, you can choose the following new attachment types: PPTX, XLSX, DOCX, CSV, or XML to be part of your subscription(s). We have also raised the attachment file size limit to 25 MB for paginated reports for large data exports. Learn more
May update for on-premises data gateway
We also released an updated version of Power BI On-premises data gateway for the month of May. The latest version (3000.5.185) includes a preview of Gateway Performance Monitoring, Amazon Redshift Refresh, and an updated mashup engine. Try it out for yourself by installing the new gateway or learn more about the new capabilities here.
Updates to the Power BI mobile apps
There were multiple updates that went out in May for the mobile apps in various platforms. Here's a quick summary:
- Key Influencers visual: We added support for the key influencers visual on mobile so you perform analysis of key drivers over your data with just a few taps.
- Maximize the view with full screen mode (Android and iOS): We added a new button to let you control when to focus on your data by removing report headers and footers and giving you maximum space for viewing your reports.
Roadmap updates
Lastly, we use the Power BI section in the Business Application Release Notes to share details on what's coming in the next three to six months. These release notes are updated weekly with details on shipping dates, screenshots, and new announcements. Here's what we disclosed recently:
- Report performance metrics – added to release notes
- Managed distribution – added to release notes
- New refresh scenarios – added to release notes
- Insights – Key influencers – release date updated to September 2019


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All I Want For Christmas…
This Giveaway is now Closed!
Christmas is coming a little bit EARLY this year…
…and we just KNOW you are going to be JUMPING FOR JOY when you see the eye candy we are about to show you!! Now that Black Friday is over, you are completely done with your Christmas shopping, right?
NO?!? {GASP!!!} Ok, just kidding…. we aren't either! BUT – what would you say if I told you that THIS POST is going to help you out with that l'il dilemma?
Yep, we realized that if WE were entering a giveaway… then we would want to be able to choose which item we wanted! AND TA-DAAHHH!!!! The idea for this giveaway was born!! Are you ready CHOOSE YOUR PRIZE??
A little more about each prize…
#1) Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera
#2) iPad with Retina display Wi-Fi 16GB – Black
#3) iPad mini with Wi-Fi 16GB – Black & Slate
#4) KitchenAid Artisian Series 5-Quart Mixer {color of your choice}
#5) Inspiron 15 4G memory, 5G hard drive
Are you jumping up and down yet? Because you should be!! We've teamed up with some of our talented blogger friends to make this Christmas magic happen! We all know how CRAZY it gets around Christmas time & we wanted to do something to lessen the stress when it comes to shopping for gifts! We're giving you the chance to win the perfect gift for that "impossible person" on your Christmas list OR the reward you can give yourself for working so hard all year! Who says you can't get yourself a Christmas present?
BUT WAIT, it gets even better!
Once the THREE winners have been selected to receive the prize of their choice, we're going to randomly draw ONE of their names and that person will also get to choose which loved one they want this this fabulous gadget shipped to…
A BRAND NEW KitchenAid Mixer shipped directly to the person of your choice!
{A HUGE thank you to Sassy Steals for providing these KitchenAid Mixers! Sassy Steals sells fashionable handmade and boutique items. Use promo code 'sassy10' for 10%off your first purchase with Sassy Steals and please sign up today to receive their exclusive offers!}
Time to get your "click" on & follow all of the blogs who made this giveaway possible. One word – PINTEREST!!! It's becoming a common household name & ALL of these talented bloggers have their own Pinterest boards that you should definitely be following!! Heck – who wouldn't want to be able to redecorate their house on a dime, keep the spice alive with their sweethearts, be able to "get their craft on" whenever they felt like it, eat the yummiest food on earth, AND find the best deals around town for darling crafty items?!? Yep – if you follow all of THESE peeps – you will be able to do just that!
JUST THINK OF THE AMAZING THINGS ALL OF THESE BLOGGERS PIN EVERY DAY!!! Sheesh, inspiration overload… at it's best!!
There are just TWO {2} steps to enter the giveaway…
#1) Click on each image {or name} below to follow each fabulous blogger on Pinterest!
#2) And THEN, fill out the form below. Voila, you're done!!
When you put in your info – make sure you only enter ONCE because this form is shared on all of the participating sites.
Good Luck!!!
*This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Pinterest. We hereby release Pinterest of any liability. The sponsors will ship all prizes within 7 days of the end of the giveaway. Giveaway starts Tuesday, November 27th at midnight pm PST and ends Monday, December 3rd at midnight PST. Once the giveaway ends, winners will be chosen using Random.org and contacted within 24 hours by email. This post will be updated with winners' names once we've heard back from them. Winners will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Open to U.S. residents only.
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.


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At an extraordinary moment in Pentagon history, a former business executive with little political stature and without military experience is making his international debut as the acting U.S. secretary of defense.
After conferring Monday with Afghan leaders and American military commanders and diplomats in Kabul, Pat Shanahan was scheduled to attend a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels and an international security conference in Munich, Germany. It was Shanahan's first-ever visit to Afghanistan, where American troops have been at war for 17 years and the Trump administration is pushing for a peace deal with the Taliban.
Shanahan's performance on the global stage could influence whether President Donald Trump elevates the longtime Boeing executive from his uncertain status as interim Pentagon leader to be the administration's nominee to replace Jim Mattis. The retired Marine general quit in late December in protest of Trump's policies.
In his resignation letter, Mattis offered to stay on until after this week's NATO meeting to ensure that the Pentagon's interests were "properly articulated and protected." But three days after Mattis gave Trump that letter, the president on Dec. 23 told Mattis to leave the Cabinet on Dec. 31. This unusually sudden transition came at sensitive junctures in Syria, where Trump has ordered a U.S. troop withdrawal, and Afghanistan, where a potential troop pullout looms amid continued Taliban violence.
The status of U.S. forces in Iraq also has been put in question as Iraqi leaders responded with anger to Trump's statement in early February that he would keep American troops in Iraq in order to watch neighboring Iran. Trump had earlier angered Iraqis by saying he would use Iraq as a base to strike Islamic State targets inside Syria.
It is extraordinary for the Pentagon to be run by an interim leader and even rarer that the leader is a career defense industry executive. Shanahan is only the third person to serve as acting defense secretary and the first in 30 years. The last was William H. Taft, who served for two months in 1989 after President George H.W. Bush's first choice to be defense secretary, John Tower, became mired in controversy and ultimately failed to be confirmed by the Senate. Dick Cheney, the future vice president under President George W. Bush, then was nominated and confirmed.
Shanahan is the first to undertake an international trip while serving as acting secretary, according to Pentagon spokesman Chris Sherwood.
U.S. & World
No one has been nominated to succeed Mattis. Nor has anyone been nominated to succeed Shanahan in his previous role as deputy defense secretary. The Pentagon's budget chief, David L. Norquist, has been "performing the duties" of the deputy secretary since Jan. 1.
Presidents typically take pains to ensure the Pentagon is being run by a Senate-confirmed official, given the grave responsibilities that include sending young Americans into battle, ensuring the military is ready for extreme emergencies like nuclear war and managing overseas alliances that are central to U.S. security.
Trump, however, seems in no hurry to end Shanahan's limbo status.
"I like acting," the president said Jan. 6. "It gives me more flexibility."
He did not explain what he meant, but the implication was that he can keep Shanahan on a string and not immediately seek the advice and consent of the Senate. Mattis sought a certain independence from the White House, which seemed to irritate Trump.
Shanahan told reporters on Jan. 29 he isn't thinking about how long he might keep his "acting" status, jokingly adding that his mother each morning sends him a "pray" emoticon.
Trump has publicly praised Shanahan several times, suggesting he favors keeping him on.
"Patrick has a long list of accomplishments" during his tenure as deputy defense secretary, Trump tweeted on Dec. 23. Mattis' resignation from three days earlier had implicitly criticized Trump's unwillingness to stand up to Russia and his inclination to disrespect America's longtime allies.
"We have a wonderful man in there now," Trump said on Dec. 25 during a visit to Iraq when a reporter asked if he had a timeline for nominating someone to succeed Mattis. Trump praised Shanahan profusely, noting his reputation at Boeing for managing costs and rescuing a troubled Dreamliner 787 program.
"He could be there for a long time," Trump said, adding, "I'm in no rush."
Although Trump cites Shanahan's Boeing experience, Shanahan's link to one of the nation's biggest defense contractors is not universally praised. During Shanahan's confirmation hearing in 2017, Sen. John McCain, then chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sternly cautioned him about what McCain and others saw as the danger of an overly cozy connection between the Pentagon and its defense contractors.
"I am concerned that 90 percent of defense spending is in the hands of five corporations, of which you represent one," McCain said. "I have to have confidence that the fox is not going to be put back into the hen house."
Shanahan won confirmation by a vote of 92-7. One senator, McCain, did not vote.